Characterization, Method Development and Dealing with Old Radioactive Sludge Stored at the Research Station in Studsvik
- AB SVAFO, SE-61182 Nykoeping (Sweden)
During the years 1965-1985 liquid radioactive waste was collected in silos at the research station in Studsvik. Preparations started at the end of the 1980's for dealing with liquids that contained particulate material (ion exchange resin, sludge, sediment). Only parts of the documentation on what had been brought into the silo in question had been kept, which meant that comprehensive characterization work had to be carried out. The characterization included the relationship between bead ion exchange resin, sludge and clear liquid and the distribution of activity between them. The occurrence of chelates was also of interest to investigate. During the characterization phase three forms of treatment (drying, pyrolysis and immobilization in cement) were considered for the radioactive waste. The final choice was solidification, using concrete, in steel moulds with a 1.2 m side. The characterization of the waste material and the method development resulted in an estimate that 60-70 steel moulds should be produced with an activity content of totally 1.2 x 10{sup 10} Bq {alpha} and 1.86 x 10{sup 12} Bq {beta}-{gamma}. At the beginning of 2005 all waste from the silo was processed. 104 steel moulds were produced, with a total activity of 1.28 x 10{sup 10} Bq {alpha} (107 % of estimated activity) and 6.05 x 10{sup 11} Bq {beta}-{gamma} (33% of estimated activity). The experiences from the project show that older waste with insufficient documentation requires a great deal of work to characterize the material. The choice of method of dealing with the waste and the form of final-storage pack are largely governed by already existing methods. The waste material accumulated over a 20-year period, and the time spent dealing with this waste was nearly as long. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, Inc., PO Box 13023, Tucson, AZ, 85732-3023 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21208702
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-09-WM-06235; TRN: US09V1013079489
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Waste Management 2006 Symposium - WM'06 - Global Accomplishments in Environmental and Radioactive Waste Management: Education and Opportunity for the Next Generation of Waste Management Professionals, Tucson, AZ (United States), 26 Feb - 2 Mar 2006; Other Information: Country of input: France; 20 refs
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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